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〃Throng！〃 thought Mr。 Baggins。 〃I don't like the sound of that。 I really must sit down for a minute and collect my wits； and have a drink。〃 He had only just had a sip…in the corner； while the four dwarves sat around the table； and talked about mines and gold and troubles with the goblins； and the depredations of dragons； and lots of other things which he did not understand； and did not want to； for they sounded much too adventurous…when； ding…dong…a…ling…' dang； his bell rang again； as if some naughty little hobbit…boy was trying to pull the handle off。 〃Someone at the door！〃 he said； blinking。 〃Some four； I should say by the sound；〃 said Fili。 〃Be…sides； we saw them ing along behind us in the distance。〃
The poor little hobbit sat down in the hall and put his head in his hands； and wondered what had happened； and what was going to happen； and whether they would all stay to supper。 Then the bell rang again louder than ever； and he had to run to the door。 It was not four after all； it was FIVE。 Another dwarf had e along while he was wondering in the hall。 He had hardly turned the knob； be…x）re they were all inside； bowing and saying 〃at your service〃 one after another。 Dori； Nori； Ori； Oin； and Gloin were their names； and very soon two purple hoods； a grey hood； a brown hood； and a white hood were hanging on the pegs； and off they marched with their broad hands stuck in their gold and silver belts to join the others。 Already it had almost bee a throng。 Some called for ale； and some for porter； and one for coffee； and all of them for cakes； so the hobbit was kept very busy for a while。 A big jug of coffee bad just been set in the hearth； the seed…cakes were gone； and the dwarves were starting on a round of buttered scones； when there came…a loud knock。 Not a ring； but a hard rat…tat on the hobbit's beautiful green door。 Somebody was banging with a stick！
Bilbo rushed along the passage； very angry； and altogether bewildered and bewuthered…this was the most awkward Wednesday he ever remembered。 He pulled open the door with a jerk； and they all fell in； one on top of the other。 More dwarves； four more！ And there was Gandalf behind； leaning on his staff and laughing。 He had made quite a dent on the beautiful door； he had also； by the way； knocked out the secret mark that he had put there the morning before。 〃Carefully！ Carefully！〃 he said。 〃It is not like you； Bilbo； to keep friends waiting on the mat； and then open the door like a pop…gun！ Let me introduce Bifur； Bofur； Bombur； and especially Thorin！〃 〃At your service！〃 said Bifur； Bofur； and Bombur standing in a row。 Then they hung up two yellow hoods and a pale green one； and also a sky…blue one with a long silver tassel。 This last belonged to Thorin； an enormously important dwarf； in fact no other than the great Thorin Oakenshield himself； who was not at all pleased at falling flat on Bilbo's mat with Bifur； Bofur； and Bombur on top of him。 For one thing Bombur was immensely fat and heavy。 Thorin indeed was very haughty； and said nothing about service； but poor Mr。 Baggins said he was sorry so many times； that at last he grunted 〃pray don't mention it；〃 and stopped frowning。
〃Now we are all here！〃 said Gandalf； looking at the row of thirteen hoods…the best detachable party hoods…and his own hat hanging on the pegs。 〃Quite a merry gathering！
I hope there is something left for the late…ers to eat and drink！ What's that？ Tea！ No thank you！ A little red wine； I think； for me。〃 〃And for me；〃 said Thorin。 〃And raspberry jam and apple…tart；〃 said Bifur。 〃And mince…pies and cheese；〃 said Bofur。 〃And pork…pie and salad；〃 said Bombur。 〃And more cakes…and ale…and coffee； if you don't mind；〃 called the other dwarves through the door。
〃Put on a few eggs； there's a good fellow！〃 Gandalf called after him； as
the hobbit stumped off to the pantries。 〃And just bring out the cold chicken and pickles！〃
〃Seems to know as much about the inside of my larders as I do myself！〃 thought Mr。 Baggins； who was feeling positively flummoxed； and was beginning to wonder whether a most wretched adventure had not e right into his house。 By the time he had got all the bottles and dishes and knives and forks and glasses and plates and spoons and things piled up on big trays； he was getting very hot； and red in the face； and annoyed。
〃Confusticate and bebother these dwarves！〃 he said aloud。 〃Why don't they e and lend a hand？〃 Lo and behold！ there stood Balin and Dwalin at the door of the kitchen； and Fili and Kili behind them； and before he could say knife they had whisked the trays and a couple of small tables into the parlour and set out everything afresh。
Gandalf sat at the head of the party with the thirteen； dwarves all round： and Bilbo sat on a stool at the fireside； nibbling at a biscuit （his appetite was quite taken away）； and trying to look as if this was all perfectly ordinary and。 not in the least an adventure。 The dwarves ate and ate； and talked and talked； and time got on。 At last they pushed their chairs back； and Bilbo made a move to collect the plates and glasses。 〃I suppose you will all stay to supper？〃 he said in his politest unpressing tones。 〃Of course！〃 said Thorin。 〃And after。 We shan't get through the business till late； and we must have some music first。 Now to clear up！〃 Thereupon the twelve dwarves…not Thorin； he was too important； and stayed talking to Gandalf…jumped to their feet and made tall piles of all the things。 Off they went； not waiting for trays； balancing columns of plates； each with a bottle on the top； with one hand； while the hobbit ran after them almost squeaking with fright： 〃please be careful！〃 and 〃please； don't trouble！ I can manage。〃 But the dwarves only started to sing：
〃Chip the glasses and crack the plates！
Blunt the knives and bend the forks！
That's what Bilbo Baggins hates…
Smash the bottles and burn the corks！
Cut the cloth and tread on the fat！
Pour the milk on the pantry floor！
Leave the bones on the bedroom mat！
Splash the wine on every door！
Dump the crocks in a boiling bawl；
Pound them up with a thumping pole；
And when you've finished； if any are whole；
Send them down the hall to roll ！
That's what Bilbo Baggins hates！
So； carefully！ carefully with the plates！〃
And of course they did none of these dreadful things； and everything was cleaned and put away safe as quick as lightning； while the hobbit was turning round and round in the middle of the kitchen trying to see what they were doing。 Then they went back； and found Thorin with his feet on the fender smoking a pipe。 He was blowing the most enormous smoke…rings； and wherever he told one to go； it went…up the chimney； or behind the clock on the man…telpiece； or under the table； or round and round the ceiling； but wherever it went it was not quick enough to escape Gandalf。 Pop！ he sent a smaller smoke…ring from his short clay…pipe straight through each one of Thorin's。 The Gandalf's smoke…ring would go green and e back to hover over the wizard's head。 He had quite a cloud of them about him already； and in the dim light it made him look strange and sorcerous。 Bilbo stood still and watched…he loved smoke…rings…and then be blushed to